Global Courant
WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s state broadcaster has launched an investigation after stories about the invasion of Ukraine were edited to reflect a supposed “pro-Russian point of view”.
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) has corrected at least two stories originally written by news agency Reuters that it said were “improperly edited” when they republished them online.
One story was changed to include a reference to Ukraine’s “pro-Western government” oppressing ethnic Russians, while another described the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled former pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych brought as a “coup d’état”.
“RNZ is investigating how a story about the Ukraine conflict on its website was changed to reflect pro-Russian opinion,” the broadcaster said in a news bulletin Friday night after the first story was discovered.
“The version published by RNZ contained a false account of the events. The story has since been corrected.”
The broadcaster later found that at least one other story had been changed.
“RNZ is concerned and takes this matter extremely seriously,” it said in a statement.
“We are investigating and have taken appropriate action.”
The broadcaster said an employee had been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. AFP
